Bus Drivers, School salary in Illinois
Bus Drivers, School in Illinois earn a median of $49,090 a year ($23.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,560 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $47,920. Illinois ranks 19th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay. There are 3.5 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| 25th percentile | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Median | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| 75th percentile | $59,110 | $28.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,560 | $30.08 |
| Average (mean) | $51,410 | $24.72 |
Half of bus drivers, school earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,090.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,045.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,888.08 |
| Weekly | $944.04 |
| Hourly | $23.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bus Drivers, School salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | $54,830 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,180 | 15,210 |
| Peoria, IL | $48,100 | 620 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,100 | 4,470 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $47,550 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,720 | 490 |
| Springfield, IL | $46,450 | 370 |
| Rockford, IL | $45,560 | 460 |
| Bloomington, IL | $45,500 | 280 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $45,240 | 280 |
| Kankakee, IL | $44,870 | 160 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37,750 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for bus drivers, school
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $65,170 |
| Washington | $63,370 |
| Connecticut | $61,520 |
| California | $61,040 |
| New Jersey | $59,430 |
| Hawaii | $59,090 |
| Rhode Island | $58,700 |
| New York | $56,640 |
| Vermont | $56,580 |
| Maryland | $56,450 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Taxi Driver | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,680 | $18.11 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,930 | $17.27 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Illinois?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in Illinois is $49,090 a year, or $23.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Illinois?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in Illinois earn at least $62,560 a year. The top 25% earn $59,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,310 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $46,470 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Illinois?
About 21,230 bus drivers, school are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.